Bakers asthma, Africa shows what can be done

Occupational asthma has been a considerable problem in In-store bakeries. Jeebhay and colleagues from South Africa have shown that inhalable flour dust and wheat allergen can be halved by enclosing the mixer, using divider oils and training. The stores still used hand opening of flour sacks into the mixers. Models of flour dust dose-response suggest that much lower levels of exposure will be needed for effective prevention of occupational asthma in bakers.

References

	Baatjies R, Meijster T, Heederik D, Sander I, Jeebhay MF, Effectiveness of interventions to reduce flour dust exposures in supermarket bakeries in South Africa, Occup Environ Med, 2014;71:,10.1136/oemed-2013-101971

	Meijer E, Suarthana E, Rooijackers J, Grobbee DE, Jacobs JH, Meijster T, de Monchy JGR, van Otterloo E, van Rooy FGBGJ, Spithoven JJG, Zaat VAC, Heederik DJJ, Application of a prediction model for work-related sensitisation in bakery workers, Eur Respir J, 2010;36:735-742,

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